GOP’s Bilbray: Calling Opponent a Kiddie Porn-Lover Was “A Little Over the Top”
Responding to TV ads aired last week calling Democratic Congressional candidate Francine Busby a “dangerous liberal” for having “praised a teacher reported to have child porn,” a spokesman for Busby’s GOP opponent, Brian Bilbray, admitted the ad was “a little over the top.”
The ads were not paid for by Bilbray but by the National Republican Congressional Committee. Bilbray’s spokesman told The Hill newspaper that the group did not coordinate with the Bilbray campaign, and that he wished “the NRCC had given us a heads-up on this.” (The Hill)
Burns Rising?
Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) is back from the political dead, says the Washington Post, though they certainly overstate the trend. The latest numbers show him in a dead heat with Democrats – which is where he’s sunk after steady punishment since last fall. But Burns is optimistic – or playing optimistic, at least. (WaPo)
Oh, and there was an odd little story Sunday about a $1 million earmark Burns threw to a software firm called Compressus. An ex-aide of his had lobbied for the group, and soon after the company landed the cash, Burns’ daughter got a seat on the company’s board of advisers. All sounds very mucky. But according to Burns’ spokesman, Burns’ daughter never exercised the stock options she was awarded for her service. So was this a kickback scheme gone awry? Or is Burns’ daughter just not very good at being corrupt? (BG)
Doolittle Reaches Out to The Faithful
In a letter to members of the Mormon community in his district, Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) has lashed out at the media. Why? Because they’re leveling all sorts of baseless attacks. They’ve even attacked his religious integrity. Various and sundry muckrakers, for instance, have pointed out that Doolittle, an avowed gambling opponent and teetotaler, decided to have a fundraising gala in Las Vegas with freely flowing wine. But, Doolittle fiercely counters, “Las Vegas is one of the top destination spots in the world.” So there. (Sac Bee)
Mollohan’s Decision
The Hill reports that the ranking Dem on the ethics committee decided to step down after a talk with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). (The Hill)
Reform
Not surprisingly watchdog groups are none too happy about the reform bill being pushed by the House Republicans, which was just watered down for the nth time. (The Hill)
McKinney Out of the Headlines — But Still in Hot Water
Rep. Cynthia McKinney may not have grabbed media attention recently, but at least some folks are still scrutinizing her actions: a grand jury empaneled nearly three weeks ago to examine her behavior. At least two Hill staffers have been subpoenaed to testify — one from Rep. Sam Farr’s (D-CA) office, and another from Rep. Thaddeus McCotter’s (R-MI) staff. (Roll Call)
Leaks to Wall Street
Last month, Democrats introduced legislation to curb the trading on government insider information. The Hill provides a key example of that here: a Citigroup financial analyst is being investigated for circulating an internal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services memo. (The Hill)
Specter Lobbied by Staffer’s Son
Here’s a scoop brought to you courtesy of Sen. Specter’s (R-PA) own chief of staff, oddly enough. After a USA Today story in February that Specter had sent almost $50 million in earmarks to a contractor represented by a lobbying firm run by his aide’s husband, Specter initiated an internal investigation. It’s pretty underwhelming stuff: The son of one of his staffers is a lobbyist, and he landed one $200,000 contract for a client to build homes for homeless veterans. (USA Today)
Intel Committee Chair: I Just Wanna Bang On De Drum All Day
He’s already dragged out a straightforward probe of Iraq-related intelligence for over two years, but that’s not long enough for Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing later.
Roberts wants to split off the portions of his much-extended probe that would examine the Bush administration’s use of the intelligence, The Hill reports. In the meantime, he will produce another report answering a number of noncontroversial questions. The paper notes:
Left unfinished would be a report on whether public statements and testimony about Iraq by senior U.S. government officials were substantiated by available intelligence information. Roberts also would leave unfinished another report on what Democrats have called possibly illegal activity in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, formerly headed by Douglas Feith, who is believed to have played an important role in persuading the president to invade Iraq.
Covered Yesterday
Secret WH Probe Concurred with Drumheller…(link)
Accused CIA Leaker: It Wasn’t Me…(link)
Join the Midterm Muck Project!…(link)
WMD Report Doesn’t Match CIA Official’s Memory…(link)
Leahy, Kennedy Ask for Answers on Phone Jamming…(link)
Facing Scandal Charges, Ney’s Campaign Cash Slows…(link)
Doolittle’s Very Special Cut…(link)
Katherine Harris Alibi Doesn’t Hold Up, Paper Finds…(link)
For Enemies With Money, McCain Finds Forgiveness…(link)
